Apple patents smudge detection display for future iPhones

iPhones are one of the most easily smudged gadgets in the world, with a few weeks of light use garnering a ton of fingerprint marks on the front screen. Even though a good wipe with cloth normally does the trick, we have gotten to the stage where even that is a chore.

Apple is thankfully looking out for those too lazy to wipe down their own phone, by adding a smudge detection sensor underneath the display. It will react when the proximity sensor starts but the user hasn’t touched the display, and send an alert to the user about the smudge.

The patent filed earlier this month shows the sensor noticing a smudge from the proximity sensor. We assume Apple doesn’t have any plans to auto-remove the smudge, meaning you will still have to wipe it off yourself.

The error Apple is looking to rectify is when the proximity sensor turns off the screen when you start a call. It uses light to understand when the user holds the phone to their ear, but can sometimes get confused when smudges are all over the iPhone.